Welcome
Welcome to Chef Rita’s world where you can enjoy her Soups and Stories on a plate like you've never experienced before.
Bio
Chef Rita is a community advocate and food insecurities champion who was born and raised in Natchez, Mississippi. She is a two-time graduate of Alcorn State University, where she received a bachelor's and master's degree. Over the years, she has worked as the Community Nutritional Specialist and EFNEP Program Coordinator at her Alma Mater. She serves as the Director of Community Engagement and is the Co-Founder of Southwest Wellness Association of Mississippi, a nonprofit organization committed to improving the overall wellness of the Southwest Communities in the state. Her New Roads Kitchen project is a mentorship program to enhance workforce skills for re-entry adults and disengaged youths to help generate more productive citizens in the community.
King is a Social Justice advocate for community economic improvement and a champion for improving food insecurities in rural communities. Chef Rita is the creator of the Soul Food Fusion Festival (SFFF), a Food and Music Festival that features a block-long white linen community dining table. The SFFF is designed to encourage more diverse community engagement. Chef has been featured in Southern Foodways Alliance – Summer Short Film and has been selected by Blue Magnolia Films as a Mississippi Storyteller for the Mississippi State Bicentennial Celebration “Recipes from the Heart."
She is featured in the New York Museum of Food and Drink for the Legacy Quilt Exhibition, honoring African American food, drink, or cultural producers who have laid the foundation for American cuisine. She was featured in HULU’s searching for Soul Food. Chef Rita spreads the message always to treat everyone how you want to be treated because when we all come to the table, no matter your race, creed, color, or sexual orientation; we should all be
“Just like Family.”
Jarita is a member of the Mississippi Speakers Bureau. More information can be found here if your organization is interested in having her speak at your next event.
Cooking with Chef Rita
Interested in learning a little something? There are many different class options.
Advocacy, Arts, and Activism
Jarita has worked tirelessly to advance racial equity, education, and health and food systems through community engagement and leadership development. The Southwest Wellness Association of Mississippi has done tremendous work in developing program initiatives that are intended to bring about positive change in the state. Chef and the board members of Southwest Wellness Association of Mississippi have developed a comprehensive structure of programs to provide youth and adults with economic development opportunities, entrepreneurship training, and workforce development training.
The Natchez New Roads Initiative (NNRI) offers a new pathway to success by using real-time solutions in a non-traditional setting. Various programs range between 8-12 weeks. Participants learn job readiness training for the tourism and hospitality industries. There are given guidance on SERV Safe Certification, basic management skills, workforce readiness skills, and professional growth.
Our program also addresses day-to-day challenges participants are faced with such as educational assistance needed to complete GED requirements, childcare, transportation, and ongoing counseling services.
As of today, we have helped to:
23
place 23 people within jobs in the community
6,000
served over 6,000 meals
1,500
provided relief to over 1,500 families during the 2020 ice storm
hosted workshops on healthy eating, COVID-19 safety, food safety and sanitation
partnered with local organizations to work on erase the hate spread love campaigns and voters advocacy work as well as provide mentorship for young men and women.
Achievements & Events
Interested in working
with Jarita?
